On 21st October every year, commemoration Parades are held in all police units
as a mark of respect to brave police martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in the
line of duty. The arms are reversed and two minutes silence is observed in the honour
of the departed souls. The names of police martyrs of states, police and paramilitary
forces are read out, to acknowledge with pride the supreme sacrifices made by them.
The history of commemoration day traces back to 21st October 1959, when a patrol
party of CRPF, led by SI Karam Singh, was ambushed by the Chinese forces at Hot
Springs ladakh and 10 jawans were killed, the bravery and resultant sacrifice of
jawans fighting at 16,000 ft. altitude, in extremely cold conditions and against
all odds, is an epitome of the rarest of the rare courage Indo-Tibetan Border Police
sends a representative party of all police forces, of the country, to Hot springs,
Ladakh every year to pay homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives on 21st
Oct, 1959 while guarding national frontiers.

Punjab Police has been called upon
to perform multifarious duties in various parts of the country. After independence,
Punjab Police protected Indo-Pak Border as well as Indo-Chinese Border before ITBP
& BSF came into being. Punjab Police is also sent for internal security duty
to many terrorism affected states at a very short notice. Sardar Vallabh Bhgai Patel,
the first Home Minister of India made the following observations about Punjab Police:

"I know the difficulties and disaster which overtook the Punjab Police during the
period of partition. Your force was depleted terribly and quickly you had to begin
from a scratch. …..After such a partition and the period of communal disturbances
a parallel of which is not known, you had to face great difficulties and you have
in fact performed miracle in reorganizing your force in such a short time and in
such a splendid manner".

The history of Punjab Police is a history of gallantry,
sacrifice and innumerable achievements. Punjab has a 556 kilometers long international
border with Pakistan and witnessed the worst phase of militancy which lasted over
a decade. It is to the credit of men and officers of the valiant force, that we
could eliminate terrorism, from its roots, an example unmatched in any corner of
the world, where terrorism of such a magnitude has erupted.

The Police leadership
of the day motivated the force to challenge and end the reign of militancy with
heroism, patriotism and devotion. It is because of the ongoing sacrifices of thousands
of our men and women that we continue to enjoy an atmosphere of peace, security
and prosperity in the State. Today once again we respectfully remember their sacrifices
and salute our real life heroes of Punjab Police.

"WHEN YOU GO HOME TELL THEM OF
US THAT FOR THEIR TOMORROW WE GAVE OUR TODAY"